Organotitanate-borate complexes

ABSTRACT

Organic titanates of the general formula Ti(OR)4, react with organic borates of the general formula B(OR&#39;&#39;)3, where R and R&#39;&#39; are alkyl groups containing 1 - 18 carbon atoms, to form a 1 to 1 molar complex of the general formula Ti(OR)4:B(OR&#39;&#39;)3. These complexes are useful as catalysts and cross-linking agents for various polymers.

Umted States Patent 91 [11.1 3,860,622

Wade Jan. 14, 1975 ORGANOTITANATE-BORATE COMPLEXES OTHER PUBLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Robert Wade Ipswlch Mass" Feld & Cowe, The Organic Chemistry of Titanium,

[73] Assignee: Ventron Corporation, Beverly, ButtefWOfth 1H0, Washington PP.

Mass. 140-141.

[22] plied: June 1973 Primary ExaminerH. Sneed [21] Appl. No.: 366,729 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. Harold Boss, Esq.

52] US. Cl. 260/429.5, 252/431 R ABSTRACT [51] InLCL. C07f 7/28 Organic titanates f the general f l "MORE [58] Field of Search 260/4295 react with Organic borates f the general f l I B(OR') where R and R are alkyl groups containing [56] References (med 1 18 carbon atoms, to form a l to 1 molar complex UNITED STATES PATENTS of the general formula Ti(OR) :B(OR) These com- 3,455,976 7/1969 Wade 260/4295 x Plexes are useful as Catalysts and Cr SS-1inking Hgcms 3,458,552 7/1969 Hauck et al. 260/4295 x f r various polymers.

3,502,703 3/1970 Wade 260/4295 X Cl N D 3,519,664 7/1970 Wade 260/4295 13 0 rawngs ORGANOTITANATE-BORATE COMPLEXES BACKGROUND TO THE PRESENT INVENTION The reaction of Group l-A and II-A metal alcoholates with boron esters is well known. Copaux de- 5 scribed the reaction of triethylborate with sodium ethylate to form a crystalline product in 1898.

Steinberg Organoboron Chemistry, Volume I, Interscience, New York (1964), devotes an entire chapter to coordination compounds derived from monohydric alcohols and phenols. According to Steinberg, Reactions of trigonal coplanar boron compounds are characterized by acceptance of a neucleophile which causes the rehybridization of the boron atom from sp2 to sp3. All of the references to compounds cited in this chapter are limited to the complexes formed by Group IA and IIA metal alkoxides with boron esters,

No mention is made of complexes that might be formed from other metal ormetalloid alcoholates, with the ex- 4 ception that potassium tetraethoxy borate is converted to the less soluble thallium tetraethoxy borate by treatment with thallium acetate in ethanol solution.

(C 1-I O) BK TlOAc (C H O) B T1 KOAc THE INVENTION formula Ti(OR) :B(OR') While I do not wish to be 40 limited to any specific structure for these complexes, I believe they may have the ionic structure [Ti(OR) [B (OR') OR]'similar to other known metal organoborates. Considerable heat is involved when the reagents are mixed. The reactions are carried out in a dry atmosphere to prevent hydrolysis of the titanates and borates. While inert solvent such as hydrocarbons or chlorocarbons may be used, they are not necessary unless one of the starting materials is a solid at the reaction temperature. Normally, the reactions are started at room temperature. Since the reactions are exothermic, it may be found desirable to provide for cooling of the reaction mixture during the reaction. No restrictionsin operating temperature range are necessary other than is of considerable advantage in shipping. and handling these materials.

The products of this invention are excellent catalysts .or catalyst components in polymerization reactions,

transesterification reaction, cross linkers for thermosetting resins such as epoxies, phenolics and urea formaldehydes. In many cases, they are much less reactive than organic titanates, and provide for longer pot life when used as curing agents in resin systems, and are slower to hydrolyze.

EXAMPLES 1. Reaction of Ti(O i-C H and B(OCH A 250 ml and 2 neck reaction flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer, thermometer, and reflux condenser was charged with 35.5g of Ti(O i-C 1-I mole) (BP 230C, M.P. 17C).

To this stirred liquid was added 13 g (/8 mole) of B(OCI-1 by means of a hypodermic syringe. The temperature of the reaction mixture increased from 23C at the start to 48C 5 minutes later when allof the methyl borate had been added. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and then cooled to 5C. No solids formed. Then the mixture was heated to 100C and no reflux was noted. B(OCH boils at 68C. This shows that no free methyl borate was present. There was recovered 48 grams of colorless liquid product which had the following analysis: v Ti 12.08%, B 2.65%, C 45.7%, H 9.9% Ratio Ti=1 B=l C=l5 H=40 The complex may have the structure:

0on ocu 2. Reaction of Ti (0 i-C l-l and B(O n-C H In a similar experiment 0.125 mole of Ti (OJ-C 11 was reacted with 0.125 mole of B(O n-C H (B P l-l C). The reaction temperature increased spontaneously from 26C to 43C. during the fiveminute period that the propyl borate was added. The product of this reaction was a colorless liquid which had the following analysis: Ti 10.37%; B 2.2%; C 53.5% Ratio 1 to those temperatures at which the reagents remain q- 55 3. The following experiments were carried out where Bids; above their freezing Points and below their 0.1 mole of the'organoborate ester was added all atborling P once to 0.1 mole of the organotitanate in a dry atmo- Many of the complex reaction products have a much sphere at 25C. The maximum temperature rise was wider liquid range than their component reagents. This noted in each case.

Titanate g Borate g ATC Remark av Tetra butyl- 34 Trimethyl- 10.4 12 Yellow liquid f b. Tetrabutyl 34 Triethyl- 14.6 4 Yellow l qu d c. Tetrabutyl- 34 4 Tri n-hexyl- 31.4 4 Yellow Ilql JId d. Tetra i-propyl- 28.4 Triethyl- 14.6 26 Colorless l qu d e. Tetra i-propy- 28.4 Tri n-hexyl- 31.4 21 Colorless 1|qu|d 4. To 112.6 g (0.1 mole) of tetrastearyl titanate (a solid material) was added 10.4 g (0.1 mole) of trimethyl borate. A temperature rise of 2C was noted, and the product was a very viscous light yellow liquid at 25C.

I claim:

1. The method of preparing a complex of the general formula Ti(OR) :B(OR') where R and R are alkyl groups which consists in mixing equimolar amounts of a tetraalkyl titanate containing from 12 to 72 carbon atoms with a trialkyl borate containing from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and stirring the mixture until substantially all the trialkyl borate has reacted with the tetraalkyl titanate to form said complex,

3. The method as claimed by claim 1 wherein the trialkyl borate is trimethyl borate.

4. The method as claimed by claim 3 wherein the tetraalkyl titanate is tetraisopropyl titanate.

5. The method as claimed by claim 3 wherein the tetraalkyl titanate is tetrabutyl titanate.

6. The method as claimed by claim 3 wherein the tetraalkyl titanate is tetrastearyl titanate.

7. The composition produced by the method as claimed by claim 1.

8. The composition produced by the claimed by claim 2.

9. The composition produced by the claimed by claim 3.

10. The composition produced by the claimed by claim 4.

11. The composition produced by the claimed by claim 5.

12. The composition produced by the claimed by claim 6.

13. The method as claimed by claim 1 wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of an inert solvent for at least one of said reactants.

method as method method as method as method as 

2. The method as claimed by claim 1 wherein the tetraalkyl titanate is selected from the group consisting of tetraisopropyl titanate, tetrabutyl and tetrastearyl titanate, and the trialkyl borate is selected from the group consisting of trimethyl borate, triethyl borate and tri n-hexyl borate.
 3. The method as claimed by claim 1 wherein the trialkyl borate is trimethyl borate.
 4. The method as claimed by claim 3 wherein the tetraalkyl titanate is tetraisopropyl titanate.
 5. The methOd as claimed by claim 3 wherein the tetraalkyl titanate is tetrabutyl titanate.
 6. The method as claimed by claim 3 wherein the tetraalkyl titanate is tetrastearyl titanate.
 7. The composition produced by the method as claimed by claim
 1. 8. The composition produced by the method as claimed by claim
 2. 9. The composition produced by the method as claimed by claim
 3. 10. The composition produced by the method as claimed by claim
 4. 11. The composition produced by the method as claimed by claim
 5. 12. The composition produced by the method as claimed by claim
 6. 13. The method as claimed by claim 1 wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of an inert solvent for at least one of said reactants. 